ICESat-2 Applications UpdateGSFC APPLIED SCIENCES WG MEETING

DECEMBER 6, 2017; NASA GSFC

PRESENTED BY SABRINA DELGADO ARIAS ON BEHALF OF ICESAT-2 APPLICATIONS TEAM

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ICESat-2 Objectives1. Quantify polar ice-sheet contributions to current and recent

sea-level change and the linkages to climate conditions

2. Quantify regional signatures of ice-sheet changes to assess mechanisms driving those changes and improve predictive ice sheet models; this includes quantifying the regional evolution of ice sheet change, such as how changes at outlet glacier termini propagate inward.

3. Estimate sea-ice thickness to examine ice/ocean/atmosphere exchanges of energy, mass and moisture.

4. Measure vegetation canopy height as a basis for estimating large-scale biomass and biomass change.

https://icesat-2.gsfc.nasa.gov/science

ICESat-2 is Scheduled to Launch September 12, 2018

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Applications TeamRole in ICESat-2 Mission Members Affiliation

ICESat-2 Program Applications Coordinator

Sabrina Delgado AriasScience Systems and Applications

Inc (SSAI), NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

ICESat-2 Deputy Program Applications (DPA) Lead

Vanessa Escobar SSAI - GSFC

ICESat-2 Program Applications Lead Molly Brown University of Maryland

ICESat-2 SDT Member (Hydrology) & Science Team Applications Liaison

Mike Jasinski SDT Member – Hydrology, GSFC

ICESat-2 Deputy Project Scientist Tom Neumann GSFC

ICESat-2 Science Team Leader Lori Magruder University of Texas

NASA Headquarters Program Applications Lead

Woody Turner NASA Headquarters (HQ)

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ICESat-2 Applications Goals How can ICESat-2 be used effectively

within analyses, forecasts, and models so as to improve decision processes needed to address practical societal needs?

What is the scientific information flow for different applications starting from observation to end-use? Who is involved?

How can the expected observations be leveraged or complemented with other data sources so as to lead to improved data products?

Enhance Applications Research | Increase Collaboration | Accelerate Applications

Observation SynthesisDecision Process

Feedback Loops

We define applications as innovative uses of mission data products in

decision-making activities for societal benefit

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Applications Activities since April-Oct 2017

https://icesat-2.gsfc.nasa.gov/applications

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Increase participants’ familiarity with ICESat-2 mission objectives and atmospheric data product functionalities

Encourage exploratory discussion on potential for future joint-product development

Identify opportunities to leverage the planned data with information from other satellite instruments to maximize their utility for the applied and operational atmospheric science communities

Collaboration between ICESat-2 mission and representatives of the:

Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) mission

Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS) instrument

Earth Clouds, Aerosols and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) mission; and

Atmospheric Dynamics Mission–Aeolus (ADM-Aeolus) satellite.

‒ May 31-June 1, 2017

‒ Discovery Learning Bechtel Collaboratory, University of Colorado Boulder

‒ Hosted by Ute Herzfeld and Applications Team

‒ 47 participants – 19 in person and 28 via remote access.

‒ SDT Members in attendance: Steve Palmand Yuekui Yang

Joint Atmospheric Tutorial

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Joint Atmospheric Tutorial (cont.) – Possible Overlap

It is unlikely that CALIPSO or CATS will be in operation while ICESat-2 is collecting data, although it is not impossible. ADM-AEOLUS and EarthCARE, on the other hand, are scheduled to launch in 2018 and 2019, respectively, and should be operating at the same time as ICESat-2.

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Joint Atmospheric Tutorial (cont.)

Applications Discussed

Air Quality Prediction (ICESat-2 & CALIPSO)Example: ICESat-2 vertical profiles could build upon current work with CALIPSO data to assess air quality above the ground, to help track the vertical movement of smoke in plumes emitted by fires.

Weather Forecasting and Climate MonitoringExample: Prospect of using ICESat-2 to fill CALIOP polar data information gap

Monitoring WildfiresExample: Monitor smoke aerosols (distinguish smoke aerosols from clouds, observe vertical characteristics of pyroCb smoke plume, track smoke transport, and more).

Traffic Hazard WarningExample: assess hazardous conditions for traffic (both air and ground traffic) due to blowing snow (EA Research – Ute Herzfeld)

‒ Report:

https://goo.gl/i6crfM

‒ Article in The Earth Observer

https://goo.gl/7ggZZV

https://icesat-2.gsfc.nasa.gov/get_involved

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ICESat-2 Early Adopters ICESat-2 hosts 21 Early Adopters:

Program started on August 2013 during Phase C

EA selection is via a biannual approval process; as of January 2016, started accepting proposal submission and reviewing proposals on a rolling basis.

Early Adopters have access to pre-launch airborne data via the ICESat-2 website (MABEL, SIMPL, MATLAS, SPL Prototype). The Multiple Altimeter Beam Experimental Lidar, or MABEL, is the test-bed instrument for ICESat-2.

https://icesat-2.gsfc.nasa.gov/early_adopters

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EA Low-latency Requirements

‒ Over the past several workshops, we have had several requests for the ICESat-2 project to consider generating and producing low-latency along-track data products.

‒ Feedback from Early Adopters reported to SDT members in October 2017.

July 2017: Begun collecting precision and accuracy requirements for these products from Early Adopters to help, to the extent possible, determine if ICESat-2 can potentially meet their needs.

Questions asked:

‒ What parameters are you most interested in (e.g. "inland water body height")?

‒ What precision is needed (e.g. "no requirement, just need to know what the 1-sigma precision uncertainty is")?

‒ What accuracy is needed (e.g. "10 cm in nominal along-track heights")?

Currently collaborating with members of the U.S. Arctic Observing Network Sea Ice Forecasting Team to develop a consistent set of technology neutral requirements for sea ice thickness observations from the standpoint of forecasting services (Lead: Sandy Starkweather)

112017 AGU Fall Meeting Applications Town Hall Monday, 11 December 2017, 12:30-13:30

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 252-254

Preparing for Launch: 2018

Virtual Early Adopter Roundtables Fall-Winter 2017-2018; 1-1.5 hour virtual

meetings

Roundtable for Early Adopters (EAs), SDT partners, and invited experts to discuss knowledge, practice and strategies on how to use the planned ICESat-2 data

Engages all EAs developing similar applications

Opportunity to involve new/less outspoken EAs that may still be relatively unfamiliar with data products

Inquisitive discussion led primarily by SDT members

Development of EA Applications Readiness Levels

End-user led Working Group Meetings

Upcoming Activities

Thank you!Questions? Nominations to the Early Adopter Program?

Email: Sabrina Delgado Arias sabrina.delgadoarias@nasa.gov